Did you have unprotected sex and miss your period this month? Having strange physical symptoms like nausea and fatigue? If so, you might be worried about pregnancy. While pregnancy testing and following up with ultrasound are the only surefire ways to know if you’re pregnant, there are early pregnancy symptoms to look out for.
This article highlights the top seven symptoms of pregnancy. However, if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s critical to receive pregnancy testing, as these symptoms can also be indicative of other health conditions.
Top 7 Pregnancy Symptoms
A special mixture of hormones becomes present in your body during pregnancy. These hormones can cause common symptoms in many women. If you notice any of the following symptoms, there’s a chance you might be pregnant:
- Missed menstrual period. Did you miss your period this month? Pregnancy might be to blame. This is because those early pregnancy hormones tell your body to stop menstruating so that your uterine lining can remain thick to nourish and sustain the pregnancy.
- Tender, swollen breasts. Your breasts may respond to early pregnancy hormones by becoming more sensitive, tender, and swollen as they prepare for breastfeeding. If your bra is fitting tighter or your breasts are more sensitive than usual, you could be pregnant.
- Feeling exhausted. Having trouble waking up in the morning? Needing frequent naps? While many things can lead to feeling tired, if your fatigue is accompanied by other pregnancy symptoms, being pregnant could be to blame.
- Frequent trips to the bathroom. Need to urinate more often than usual? During pregnancy, your body produces more blood. In return, your kidneys work harder to filter the extra blood levels, which causes you to urinate more often. If you’re going to the bathroom often and with greater urgency, this could mean you’re pregnant.
- Feeling nauseous or vomiting. Early pregnancy hormones can cause you to feel sick to your stomach. And unlike the name suggests, “morning sickness” can happen morning, noon, or night. And sometimes, this feeling can cause you to vomit. If you feel sick to your stomach without a known cause (like illness or food poisoning), you might be pregnant.
- Spotting. Did your period seem extremely light this month? It might not have been a period but could instead be what’s known as “implantation bleeding.” And it can be an early sign of pregnancy for some women. It happens when the fertilized egg implants into the uterine lining and causes minor bleeding.
- Food cravings or aversions. If you’re feeling hungry for foods you don’t normally eat, or if foods you normally love sound disgusting, this may indicate pregnancy. While some women experience this pregnancy symptom early on, others won’t feel this way until mid-pregnancy or not at all.
Next Steps
If you notice any of the above symptoms, the next step is pregnancy testing. Pregnancy testing works by detecting a special pregnancy hormone in your body. Our FREE lab-quality pregnancy tests are very accurate at detecting early pregnancy.
Once you’ve received a positive pregnancy test, getting an ultrasound is the next step. This scan performed at 6+ weeks will confirm your pregnancy and give you other essential information you need to stay safe.
At Attleboro Women’s Health, we offer free and confidential services, such as pregnancy testing and limited ultrasounds, to give you the clarity you need right now. Contact us today—same-day appointments may be available. You’re not alone in this. We’re here for you.